Innovative Projects Realized

Multiplexing detection of infectious diseases biomarkers using fluorescence-encoded microspheres

Infectious diseases from a variety of pathogens can lead to serious health conditions such as sepsis. To improve the prognosis and decrease the mortality rate of infectious diseases, point-of-care testing (POCT) of blood biomarkers is a critical approach. Testing of biomarkers such as C-reactive protein, IL-6 and procalcitonin could help identify the type of pathogen and classify the progression stage of infection. This project focuses on developing microsphere-suspension based detection technology, combining with fluorescence detection device for the quantitative measurement of infectious disease biomarkers. This research project holds potential to provide healthcare access to people in remote areas, local communities and emergency rooms.

Development of an IoT-based sleep monitoring system for optimal sleep quality

The proposed project will develop a system that combines ambient environmental sensors with sleep detection methods to measure sleep quality and allow the user to improve their focus during activities of their daily lives. Observing sleep patterns through all the stages of sleep to model the users body clock and quality of sleep. In addition, using environmental sensors to help users identify optimal sleeping conditions. This will be done by developing an algorithm that will estimate sleeping patterns with environmental sensors and produce a report to optimize their sleep. A hardware prototype will be created as a proof of concept so that the user could conveniently use it in their own home to adjust their sleep and environment. The benefit of this project will let people become more aware of their sleeping patterns and increase their sleep quality for a more active daily life.

THE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY POTENTIAL OF NATURES IMMUNO ON INFLAMMATION INDUCED BY LPS

Inflammatory diseases such as pulmonary inflammation, lung cancer, asthma, and fibrosis exert a great economic impact across the globe. They have a tremendous impact on health and quality of life. Proinflammatory cytokines are released by the immune system which can be activated by Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), an endotoxin which mimics infection by Gram-negative bacteria. The literature indicates that females are at an increased risk of developing inflammatory diseases compared to males. NATURES IMMUNO is an innovative formula developed by NHV Natural Pet Products to support the immune system. It is extracted from 5 commonly used mushrooms: Turkey Tail mushroom, Coredyceps mushroom, Reishi mushroom, Shiitake mushroom, Agaricus mushroom. However, the influence of the combination of these mushrooms on the immune system is not well understood. Based on the theoretical benefits of the mushurooms contained in NATURES IMMUNO formulation, we will conduct a series of studies to explore the efficacy, safety, and anti-inflammatory properties of NATURES IMMUNO. Through this research, we aim to observe the effect of NATURES IMMUNO on inflammation caused by LPS in male and female mice. NHV will be benefit from the experimental data that can prove the efficiency of NATURE IMMUNO formulation through marketing.

Songs, Stories and Sacred Fire: Fostering Reconciliation Through Collaborative Research in Unama’ki

This is a program of research activities through which we will create and compile materials about L’nu and broader Indigenous histories and experiences related to military history. Our materials are to guide the Atlantic Memorial Park Society in its development of Indigenous content at their new heritage site in North Sydney. Songs, Stories and Sacred Fire: Fostering Reconciliation through Collaborative Research in Unama’ki is a collaborative arts-based project, grounded in Indigenous knowledge and traditions. Our project team involves a partnership a group of researchers based at the Centre for Sound Communities, involving multiple generations of researchers from Membertou First Nation and Cape Breton University, and the Atlantic Memorial Park Society. Our project includes many different activities and outcomes to foster dialogue across Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, and to facilitate lasting social impact for our work. It includes education and public programming; publications; and the production of digital media (e.g., audio and video recordings). Participants of the project will be involved in a variety of Indigenous and arts-based research processes including film screenings of earlier collaborative research, creative workshops, teepee storytelling sessions, digital storytelling workshops

Application of Data Analytics Approaches for Solvent-Assisted Bitumen Recovery Pilot Analysis

This project will develop data-driven models for production performance analysis and optimization for solvent-assisted bitumen recovery operations and related processes. Effective operations of solvent processes are crucial for improving oil production and maintaining a low solvent-to-oil ratio (SOR). Although the recent developments in digital oilfield technologies have enabled real-time surveillance of downhole operating conditions and production data, analyzing the large amount of collected data remains challenging without customized data analytics tools.
The industry partner has gathered a comprehensive data set in a pilot study. Data-driven approaches will be integrated to establish relationships between the collected data and relevant reservoir (operational) parameters. The project outcomes will offer important insights on how to optimize solvent operations. This knowledge is crucial for field-scale operations design.

Multivariable PID Controller for Search and Rescue UAV Operations Based on Static Output Feedback

The research proposed in this document will build upon and extend the previously funded CRIAQ (AUT-1701) and MITACS (IT12130) projects on the development of a UAV platform for search and rescue activities in the ski facilities of Domain Saint Bernard in Mont Tremblant in collaboration with SII Canada. The goal of this research is to develop a synthesis methodology for a multivariable PID flight controller to steer a rescuing UAV to a person in danger using output feedback.

Characterizing the Immune Response to Novel Vaccine Candidates in a Human Whole Blood Assay Using High-Dimensional Single Cell Proteomics

Monitoring the immuno-modulatory effects of vaccine formulations is critical for novel vaccine development. While animal models have been effective, increasing evidence suggests differences when translating to humans. We have designed a platform which uses fresh human whole blood coupled with a high-throughput single cell analysis, mass cytometry (CyTof Helios), to characterize and model the immune responses to vaccine formulations. Preliminary results have revealed an expansion and changes in the immunophenotype of naive, effector, and memory T-cells, as well as other immune cells including B cells, monocytes, and NK cells. This illustrates the complex topography of biologically relevant cellular expansion of different immune cell subsets induced by a vaccination. This unique systems immunology (/vaccinology) approach will produce high-dimensional data on adjuvant-modulated, antigen-driven immune responses in a clinically relevant human model. This platform has the potential to transform the way new vaccines can be assessed before and throughout clinical development to anticipate and considerably de-risk vaccine strategy.

Effects of cell culture plastics on dendritic cells activated using ImmunyrTM

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada. A promising new way to treat cancer is through the administration of immune cells that target the cancer – an approach called cancer immunotherapy. The goal of this project is to engineer better culture vessels to produce dendritic cells. Dendritic cells are the “gatekeepers” of our immune system. They can have the capacity to activate other immune cells to attack cancers. The project involves two industrial partners: Kanyr Pharma, Inc. and Saint- Gobain, Inc. Kanyr Pharma has developed a technology called Immunyr(TM) that can improve the function of the dendritic cells in culture prior to reinjection into the patients. Saint-Gobain is a multinational company that manufactures glass, ceramics and advanced materials, among others. Saint-Gobain also manufactures cell culture bags that can be used to culture dendritic cells. Kanyr Pharma currently produces these dendritic cells in plastic containers that are not functionally closed. Liquids are introduced into the containers manually through caps or lids. For clinical production of the dendritic cells, it would be safer to culture the cells in closed plastic vessels such as bags filled through tubing.

Modeling of Pressurized Chemical Looping Combustion in a Novel Toroidal Fluidized Bed

This study aims to produce a feasibility report on establishing a district energy system in Toronto, Ontario. The district energy system will be powered by wood chips sourced by a local, privately held forest and transported by rail to the proposed combined heat and power facility. Areas that will be examined in this study include transportation costs and logistics as well as carbon emissions throughout the supply chain. We hope that the outcome of this study will help create a path to revitalize Ontario’s forest industry.

Affordability Dashboard – Vancouver

The VEC, under its Economic Transformation Lab and in partnership with SFU and MITACS, seeks to research, design, and publish an affordability dashboard that consolidates all important metrics/statistics on affordability, relevant to Vancouver businesses and talent. The Dashboard will not only focus on affordability of office, retail, and industrial space, as well as other pertinent business operation affordability metrics, but will also contain affordability metrics that inform businesses of the cost of living for their talent. The dashboard will also include benchmarking against other ?peer? cities; the comparison cities will be identified through similarities in city population, brand, GDP, etc. The intent behind this dashboard is to make all of the metrics available in one place to help inform businesses and talent of current affordability conditions.

Determining chocolate antioxidants by infrared spectroscopy and multivariate analysis

Chocolates have a rich source of dietary phenolic compounds and antioxidants. During chocolate manufacture, the antioxidant capacity and procyanidin content in cocoa can be affected by a variety of processing conditions. Therefore, a rapid and less expensive method to determine chocolate antioxidants is highly demanded in confectionery industry. As a nondestructive tool, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy coupled with multivariate analysis is an ideal candidate to address this technique challenges in chocolate industry. We will determine antioxidant capacity and procyanidin content of chocolates using FT-IR spectroscopy and multivariate analysis. With the multivariate analysis model, the determination of antioxidant capacity and procyanidin content of chocolates can be achieved within 1 min per sample in a nondestructive manner. This novel technique has the potential to reduce the cost of determination of antioxidants in chocolate and to further aid in optimizing chocolate manufacture process, leading to more health benefits to chocolate consumers in Canada and abroad.

Novel modeling and simulation algorithms of interconnected AC and multiterminal DC grids for power flow and transient stability analyses

This research is aimed at the development of new modeling and simulation algorithms of interconnected AC and DC supergrids for power flow and transient stability analyses. The efforts will be focused on the following technical areas:

• Advanced modeling methods of AC/DC power converters and controls for the integration of renewable energy resources in power systems.
• New stability solution algorithms interfacing DC grid models with AC grid transient stability program will be developed.
• Development of benchmark cases of AC and DC supergrids for transient stability analysis using realistic AC grid cases for various fault conditions

The results are expected to be implemented in the commercial software package TSAT (Transient Security Assessment Tool) developed by Powertech Labs Inc. It is expected that the results of this project will greatly enhance the capabilities of TSAT which will better serve the purpose of analysis for the integration of renewables into the power grid and the operation of the new HVDC technologies.